The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-03-03
The Group Around the Morning Fire.
methodist Advanced

very uGCplS SoIlIAlAA>N eA~
tionase mother for the little shlverlng
forms that gather around her, one OF
these cold mornings, just as the sun
| looks over the eastern hills. lhey
push, and crowd about the old hearth
where the slow fire seems to struggle
for life, with the odds of snow and ice
against it. They push and crowd,
and shove, like young animals OF
another sort, each in pursuit OF his
own comfort, under the smart OF the
common discomfort, and each for the
time being, at least, quite torgettul OF
the comfort of all the rest. 1t is the
mother who shoves back to make more
room as each new addition is made to
the group. 1t is the mother VINO
thinks of the little bare feet, and the
little cold hands, and the thin, hall
worn, sleizy garments. 1t IS the
mother that feels the sting OF the frost
which they feel, and shivers when they
shiver, and shoves back again to let
them in closer to the slow, dull fre.
1t is the mother who IS ready to sur
render all her rights, and all her COM
!, forts to save the little hands from frost,
and the bright eyes from tears.
She it is that wonders, as she looks
upon the little hungry shlverlng group
| around the slow morning tlre-she 1t
. is that wonders how they are all to get
Through the long, mericless winter,
: and then calculates silently, the
chances for this one and that one-the
/ little one, the pale one, the sick one
S whom, perchance, she has been watch
J. ing through the long, cold night.
y Self? Self is already dead. Self has
If gone out of her, and found Its home
r in the little group that are shutting
d her away from the slow fire. She nc
V longer suffers save in them. She nt
/. longer lives, but for them. They are
= practically her self.
|, But what is all this but nature? A
}, beautiful loving, motherly nature
1t is true; a nature to be admired anc
rs applauded by all mankind, but never
le theless nature. Manifested in the bird
Jealous, anxious, and self-sacrlhclnl
-, for the preservation and safety of he
~ birdlets, it touches the heart, an'
l. teaches a grateful lesson. But IS ther
ofi no more in the human mother tha'
;s motherly INSTINCT There may be n
more, or little more. 1t is possible t
conceive of mother who goes little
NJ NJ if any, beyond bird or beast IN tn
~ u, pitch of maternal aspiration, who see
d d in the little shivering group about th
Nle N slow fire, only group of little anlma
Il born to push and shove their wa
aimlessly through the world, to yaw
and chlver and breath and eat an
,as sleep and wake and die, and-nothln
.rn more. What is she but such OF
whose whole concern is about heal
'he and appetite and dress and pleasur
,'- It IS we'll to shelter the little hea
80 from storms and fll the little han
a aees with bread, but is that all? Are tn
Jo .t,o onlv born to live and die3 Do tn
ad need nothing more than food al
~ rainent? Is there no such thing
ors duty and destiny2 Do the little stru
On Cling, shivering group about tho sic
nd fire represent nothing but flesh a.
tad ted bone and nerve and appetite? A
N the possibilities there only those
stomach and muscle? The true mott
is keenly alive to the gross but
portant demands of the animal,
'ui She forgets not demands OF the ang
% She sees more than eyes and har
com Ionl and feet, and hears more than the
o'' for bread and raiment.
She sees in each eye light OF
the which is not earthly, and beneath e;
ight little shivering form spirit OF ne
amp emily mould, putting on plumage
pre- immortal fight. There are hands
be trained to duty, brains to be ira
ar ed to think, hearts to be tralnd to lc
re- and beyond all duty, thought,
bout love, the full fruition OF destiny
rma, the bosom of God. If maternal
5 of stinct moves heart and hand to
;, in and sacrifice, to meet and satisfy
tina. urgent wants of to-day, what G
tory proude reason demand tor the e'e'
tents tomorrow And if the natural
rther stinct ofthe mother which impels
to play the mother bird around
arth- little nest, driving away hunger
the cold by giving up health and conf
terri wins our admlratlon, "Hei
cted set the boundaries of our adoratior
half her who in the exercise Of a heav
, the faith, plays the angel as well
the caring tor the soul ano P,ep4i -
n the for Its better nome DeJoho 'i'1 >
:arth-
Philadelphia boasts lady who